Kim Quek's Book Banned, Again

KUALA LUMPUR 1 October – The Government of Malaysia has banned a book by an opposition-affiliated political analyst citing security concerns, but the author claimed last Friday that the government was abusing its power to crack down on dissent.

Kim Quek, a member of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's People' Justice Party (PKR) said the country officials do not like his book "The March to Putrajaya _ Malaysia's New Era is at Hand," because its content criticizes the government.

"This is a clear abuse of power just to suppress critical opinion. They feel threatened," Quek said.

Home Ministry Secretary-General Mahmood Adam said the book on the opposition's rise and government's shortcomings contained baseless accusations and twisted facts, the national news agency Bernama reported.

"Contents of the book have been banned because of the accusations against leaders, while it may also incite hatred and anger among the people. If allowed to publish, it can also be detrimental to public safety," he said.

Mahmood and other Home Ministry officials declined to immediately comment when contacted last Friday.

Quek said dozens of copies of his book had been confiscated since it was launched earlier this year. According to him, the 361-page work is a compilation of articles, previously published in online news portals.

The book calls for changes in the government. Malaysia has been ruled by the same coalition, dominated by the United Malays National Organization, for more than five decades.

In a statement last Friday, Malaysian human rights group Suaram urged the government to lift the ban and repeal the law under which it had been imposed.

"The Home Ministry is being unreasonable and defensive by linking criticism of the ruling government with public disorder when criticism of those in power is a hallmark of a functioning democracy," Suaram representative Nalini Elumalai said.

Quek's book is the second political work banned recently. In June, Malaysia banned three works of political cartoons that criticized the government, also citing security concerns.

Malaysia regularly bans publications, but usually because of sexual content or alleged misrepresentation of Islam, its official religion.